Common House minutes: 2003-10-11

Minutes:

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Minutes 10/11/03

Present: Becky, [[Rod]], Hope, Melissa, Mel, Amy
Minutes: Becky

Piano - Revisit
General Use Guidelines
Office Policy
Dinning Table & Chairs

Piano Donation:
Tom had objection to having it because too large, not movable, suggesting digital piano, light, easily movable, we could get a cover & lock. Hope's will be too big to move, need to be tuned at least once per year, 2 lower octiaves seem broken and need to be restrung.
Hope - there are 3 keys that are "twangy" sound more like a gituar then piano. Talked to a piano tech and said that it is fixable. It does not seem to be worth restring - it's not a Steinway - if you are going to the trouble, you might as well restring the whole thing. I did not get a quote (this was a few years ago). I think people need to hear the piano to see weither or not it's worth it.

Melissa: It' costs $100 just to move it. Yo u were invited to the meeting, but it did not work out with the timing.

Hope: I do not want this to be a contentious issue.

Melissa: Just becuase there is one person who does not like the idea does not make it gone.

[[Rod]]: question about space - the only place left is the game room. Then there is portablitiy - when it's in the game room to then move it? Then there is the question of the quailty of the item. We set out in our goals as the Common House donations to make sure that the quality of the donations are good - that is one of our guidlines for what is ok or not.

Mel: I just feel that w/o it being up to standard, it does not seem to fit - it sounds wonderful for the right community match, but it does not seem right here. Perhaps another group in town?

Melissa: It may need to be tuned when it's moved, but likely not much more.

Hope: the piano has been kept in tune, so it will keep it's tuning. Perhaps it will not need it once a year. I would pay for the tuning.

[[Rod]]: Tom may have higher standards then the rest of us. There is different opions on this. It's not an established fact.

Melissa: He could be looking at what he thinks the ideal is, I am thinking about how we would best use this in the community.
This has been contentous.
Becky: the added info is now that Hope would do this as a 6 month trial.
Mel: until we became aware of the quality of the piano.

Hope: No one has actually been to see/play the piano. I am willing to pay for tuning and up keep. No one aside Tammy from Great Oak has seen it.

Mel: for me, my issue had more to do with the size.

Hope: it does have wheels

[[Rod]]: no one has come by as everyone is really busy.

Hope: perhaps this is way down the importance list. And since this is a 6 month trial, after 6 months it can leave. Perahaps people need to come check it out.

Becky: If we are proposing to have the trial period, it can be moved.
[[Rod]]; I think that Tom's issues have been addressed. I do not think we need to elevate his concerns.

Hope: I would rather give a few people an option to hear it.

[[Rod]]: what happens between when you move out and when the common house is ready for it?

Hope: It will live at Sunward until it can be here. One of my goals is having piano lessons, so I would like it accessable to me.
Melissa: I understand that this particular piano has sentimental value to you- so a digitail piano will not replace it?

Hope: Yes, wood is nicer, and the electroinc are expensive - so it might be worrysome for kids to play with. And the piano gets play less.

[[Rod]]: It seems like the 6 month trial is the viable, even a 3 month trail.
Mel: Are there certain elements we will use to judge weither or not it worked?

Melissa; After 6 months, we may not have any more info on how to decide. I was in favor of bringing it to the whole community, Will will have the information of use pattern.
[[Rod]]: So we are agreed to try the 6 month trial?

Mel: the size & athstecit is still of concern to me, it does not fit the style of the common house.
Amy: I have my concerns about it being too big, and crowding out other games we have planned for the room.


General Use Guidelines:

Melissa: the only change I made was about the alchol plociy. I took out the line the line of "will follow the alchol statement".

[[Rod]]: this seems ready to present. There was some emotion about sharing equally with the other communities.

Becky: Let's come from an open place, and this is a living document and we can address the issues as the come up.

[[Rod]]: should we look at a use policy for the outside deck/piazza ? Should we have a sign up for those spaces ?


Office policy: Changes made are about the yearly lease, with increase. There will be a wait list. CH committee will help with help. We still need to decide who is going to keep track of the rents, collecting, rent increase, leases.
Paint tones, if there is damage - the renter needs to repair or paint. A waiting room may be tried, and if there are concerns it will be revisited. Office hours are not restricted as long as they are not disruptive of quite hours and locking up.

Mel: George had concerns of non 9-5 use, becuase of over flow of work people/paitants etc.
Laura: I like the 9-9
Mel: may be issues about parking? Clients are really this issue - coming and going and parking.

Amy: if someone's needs are not addressed here, they can come to the CH commitee to amend.

Melissa: there may be some waiting for open offices, but we do have some suggestions. I think the issues have been covered. I can not present the office policy...I am too close to it.
Laura will present it.

If [[Epicuria]] (unit 18) has chairs - the meeting can be held there at 18